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(New York, NY) – Destination America announces its 2014-15 upfront slate with a host of new and returning series and specials. After a stellar year of smoking-hot ratings that have earned the network nine consecutive quarters of year-over-year gains in all key demos, Destination America is already up 30 percent among P25-54 in 2014, proving that food, fun and fireworks are what viewers have come to expect from the network that celebrates all things American.

This upfront season, Destination America takes viewers on a cross-country road trip to celebrate all there is to love in these United States of Awesome. The adventure kicks off this summer with BUYING THE BEACH, following real American families as they wet their feet – literally! – in search of the beachfront vacation home of their dreams. The show is the newest addition to Destination America’s popular “Buying” franchise, joining BUYING ALASKA and BUYING THE BAYOU.

Whether you’re looking for all-American, road-trip inspiration or simply vacationing vicariously through your TV, new and returning programs on Destination America transport you from coast to coast with plentiful pit stops along the way. Travel through the BBQ belt from Kansas City to Atlanta with the new competition series BBQ PIT WARS, following Myron Mixon of BBQ PITMASTERS and top contenders from across the country as they battle to keep their crowns at America’s most heated BBQ competitions. Then spend the Fourth of July in small-town America with the return of RED, WHITE AND YOU as Destination America and USA Weekend partner, once again, to give two deserving towns an Independence Day celebration they will never forget. Adding to the fun, in 2015 viewers will have a front-row seat to enjoy the show as Destination America will produce a program event around the Fourth of July.

Destination America rounds out its roadside tour with returning series including MOUNTAIN MONSTERS,the network’s highest rated series, which follows a team of expert hunters and trappers as they defend their Appalachian community from legendary local beasts, and DEEP FRIED MASTERS, bringing together the finest fry cooks in America as they vie to make their deep-fried creations the next state fair sensation.

“There are so many awesome things about our country that unite us as Americans, like road tripping, celebrating July 4th, trading BBQ recipes, and sharing stories of local myths and legends,” said Marc Etkind, GM of Destination America. “Destination America is one big party in the U.S.A., so it’s no wonder that we’re one of cable’s top-ten fastest growing networks.”

Destination America’s upcoming slate includes:

NEW PROGRAMMING

BUYING THE BEACH (2Q14)

Life’s a beach for the American families looking for their own piece of paradise in Destination America’s newest property series BUYING THE BEACH. Join prospective homeowners as they take their lifestyle to a new level, touring three unique beachfront properties in coastal locations like Texas, Mississippi, Florida, and the Outer Banks. Along the way, they will soak up the sun as they preview the adventures that await them in their new beach home.

BBQ PIT WARS (2Q14)

Follow top competitors in the BBQ circuit as they engage in heated BBQ battle to dethrone the King of ‘Cue, Myron Mixon. They are considered the most successful pitmasters around, but every competition is a clean slate and an imposing challenge. Join these superstars of sauce behind the grill as they compete at some of the most prestigious and demanding BBQ competitions to see what it’s really like when you’re in the thick of BBQ battle.

SWAMP MONSTERS (2Q14)

With the ocean washing away 50 acres of Louisiana shoreline every day, civilization is slowly encroaching on the dense and murky swamplands that have kept mysterious beasts hidden for centuries. Thankfully, B.E.A.S.T. (Bayou Enforcement Agency of Supernatural Threats) is at the ready to protect their bayou family and the land settled by their forbearers from these creepy Cajun creatures. Reports of these monsters are coming in daily, and there has never been a better time for B.E.A.S.T. to take action!

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL (3Q14)

In this landmark special, embark on a journey to discover the natural beauty of America’s most iconic, inspiring landscapes, including roaring rivers, soaring mountains, and smoldering volcanoes. Beautifully shot and powerfully narrated, AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL tells incredible stories of how these natural wonders came to be and how their geological history has morphed into the unique environment that controls the climate, wildlife, and people that inhabit this magnificent continent.

RED, WHITE AND YOU 2015 (3Q15)

They are memories that last a lifetime: watching Fourth of July fireworks perched atop Dad’s shoulders, barbecuing with family and friends in the backyard, and enjoying patriotic parades with marching bands. In a day and age when budget constraints force small towns to cancel local festivities, Destination America and national weekly magazine USA WEEKEND partner once again to rescue the festivities with their RED, WHITE AND YOU contest. The national competition provides an opportunity for two towns to win a spectacular Fourth of July celebration, complete with food, entertainment and of course, fireworks! New in 2015, a companion special highlighting July 4th will bring the holiday to air on Destination America, taking viewers along for the ride to spread the all-American spirit even farther across the country.

RETURNING SERIES

MOUNTAIN MONSTERS (2Q14)

MOUNTAIN MONSTERS follows a team of expert hunters and trappers as they defend Appalachia from mysterious creatures that have spawned countless sightings in the region for generations. Legendary local beasts like the Hellhound, Yahoo, Fire Dragon, and Hogzilla aren’t just old wives tales, and the Appalachian Investigators of Mysterious Sightings (AIMS) are in hot pursuit to prove it. As native sons of West Virginia, the men of AIMS have spent their entire lives navigating the backcountry, surviving off the land, and practicing do-it-yourself resourcefulness in a land where time stands still. Putting a lifetime of training to the test, the AIMS team investigates, tracks, and attempts to trap these evasive creatures in an epic battle between man and monster.

BBQ PITMASTERS (2Q14)

It’s time to dust off and heat up those grills with another mouth-watering season of the hit competition series BBQ PITMASTERS. The latest installment gets a jump on summer and introduces fresh meat when favorite contestant, Moe Cason, joins Myron Mixon and Tuffy Stone at the judges’ table. BBQ PITMASTERS transports viewers into the competitive barbecue subculture, proving that barbecue is much more than just delicious food; it’s a full-blown sport. The new season showcases a fierce competition among the best in regional BBQ – from Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, Memphis and of course, Kansas City – with teams competing for a spot in a final cook-off in which the winner boasts the ultimate barbecue bragging rights: a $50,000 cash prize from Kingsford Charcoal and entry into the prestigious Kingsford Invitational.

DEEP FRIED MASTERS (2Q14)

After deep-fried Oreos, Twinkies and the latest craze, Cronuts, what could be the next deep-fried sensation? Destination America transports viewers to a classic American tradition – the state fair – with DEEP FRIED MASTERS. This series features frying competitions at local state fairs and spotlights a revolving cast of talented fry cooks, each on a mission to prove, once and for all, that everything tastes better battered. Corn dog king Jim Stacy and Big Tex legends Abel Gonzalez and Butch Benevides serve as the judges overseeing three rounds of competition. Get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to survive the deep-fry circuit as these golden fry prodigies are graded on their expertise in creativity, marketability, and skill level.

HILLBILLY BLOOD (3Q14)

Bringing ingenious innovation to the wild outdoors, HILLBILLY BLOOD follows mountain men Eugene Runcus and Spencer “Two Dogs” Boljack as they survive life in Cold Mountain, N.C., using only their wit and the help of handmade contraptions crafted from natural resources and found material. In a remote region full of colorful characters and deep-rooted tradition, Spencer and Eugene carry on the generations-old custom of getting by with little and making do with less, whether it’s rigging a hillbilly scuba suit or building a boat out of tarps and twigs. Braving tough weather conditions and complete disconnect to modern amenities, HILLBILLY BLOOD captures the true essence of perseverance and ingenuity in the rough-and-tumble mountains of Appalachia.

A HAUNTING (4Q14)

In season seven of A HAUNTING, real evil lurks in the darkest shadows and in the most ordinary places. Featuring things that do more than just go bump in the night, A HAUNTING showcases some of the scariest stories of supernatural activity known to man. Through spellbinding first-person accounts, each episode profiles the story of one family traumatized by forces unknown. Each case leaves viewers with a lingering sense that life after death is much more powerful – and sometimes more possessive – than anyone could have possibly imagined. From children to pets, the atheists to the faithful, these are the true stories of unrelenting terror that knows no bounds.

RAILROAD ALASKA (4Q14)

RAILROAD ALASKA follows an elite crew of workers – brakemen, engineers and drivers – as they battle ferocious weather and treacherous terrain to keep Alaska’s critical, 650-mile long, railroad rolling through the extreme winter. For homesteaders who live miles from the nearest roads or towns, the railroad provides a lifeline to civilization, supplies, food, and help. The railroad crew works in miserable, freezing conditions, showing off their ingenuity and expertise to get the job done no matter what. From controlled avalanches to prevent catastrophe to fascinating characters like Jim James the one-handed handy man, learn what it takes to keep this train on track

About Destination America

Destination America is the only network to celebrate the people, places, and stories of the United States. The inclusive network targeting Adults 25-54 is available in nearly 60 million homes, emblazoning television screens with the grit and tenacity, honesty and work ethic, humor and adventurousness that characterize our nation. Destination America features travel, food, adventure, home, and natural history, with original series like BBQ Pitmasters; A Haunting; Mountain Monsters;Buying Alaska; Buying the Bayou; and Railroad Alaska. For more information, please visit DestinationAmerica.com, facebook.com/DestinationAmerica, or twitter.com/DestAmerica. Destination America is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world’s #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 2 billion cumulative subscribers in 220 countries and territories.